Hanging display device for memorabilia

ABSTRACT

A display device including a plaque, a hanger secured to a rear face of the plaque for hanging the plaque on a vertical surface such that the rear face of the plaque is substantially parallel with the vertical surface, a support assembly secured to a front face of the plaque, and memorabilia held by the support assembly, wherein the support is adapted to hold the memorabilia in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device, and, moreparticularly, relates to a hanging display device for displayingmemorabilia and, in particular, sports memorabilia, such as, forexample, a ball or a helmet.

[0002] Often it is desirable to display a ball or a helmet, or othersport memorabilia as a trophy, such as when the memorabilia has beensigned by a famous professional athlete, or when the memorabilia hasbeen awarded to a player for his or her performance in a game, or whenthe memorabilia bears a team's indicia and is displayed to show loyaltyto that team.

[0003] Preferably a display device for sports memorabilia will presentand display the memorabilia, whether it be a football, baseball,basketball or helmet, for example, in an attractive fashion. It is alsopreferably that a display device for sports memorabilia be adapted forhanging on a vertical surface, such as a wall, and be simple andeconomical in design. Furthermore, it is preferably that a displaydevice for sports memorabilia support the sport memorabilia in anupright and correct position with respect to the vertical surface.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

[0004] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a display deviceincluding a plaque, a hanger secured to a rear face of the plaque forhanging the plaque on a vertical surface such that the rear face of theplaque is substantially parallel with the vertical surface, a supportassembly secured to a front face of the plaque, and memorabilia held bythe support assembly. Wherein the support is adapted to hold thememorabilia in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, thememorabilia comprises a helmet and the support assembly comprises aspacer positioned between the helmet and the plaque, and a fastenerpassing through a hole in the helmet, through the spacer and secured tothe plaque. The spacer has a flat surface abutting the front face of theplaque and an opposing contoured surface abutting the helmet andcontoured to match an outer contour of the helmet such that the helmetis in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, thememorabilia comprises a helmet and the support assembly comprises afirst clamp arm positioned between the helmet and the plaque and asecond clamp arm positioned within the helmet. The first clamp arm hascontoured portion abutting the helmet. The contoured portion of thefirst clamp arm is contoured to match an outer contour of the helmetsuch that the helmet is in an upright position with respect to thevertical surface. The second clamp arm has a gripping portion directedtowards the curved portion of the first clamp arm and securing thehelmet against the curved portion of the first clamp arm. The supportassembly also includes a fastener securing the clamp arms to the plaque.

[0007] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, thememorabilia comprises a helmet and the support assembly comprises aresilient curved prong clamping a sidewall of the helmet and removablysecuring the helmet in an upright position.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, thememorabilia comprises a helmet and the support assembly comprises abacking plate secured to the plaque, a first panel extending from thebacking plate, and a second panel intersecting the first panel. Thehelmet is removably supported in an upright position on the first andthe second panels.

[0009] According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, thesupport assembly comprises a transparent case secured to the plaque. Thecase has opposing endwalls extending from the plaque, and a cup securedto each endwall, with the memorabilia held between the cups.

[0010] Still other features and advantages will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a front isometric exploded view of a display deviceaccording to the present disclosure shown hung from a vertical surfaceand holding a helmet;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, partially cut away, of thedisplay device of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIGS. 2a and 2 b show alternative spacers for the display deviceof FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a front isometric exploded view of another displaydevice according to the present disclosure shown hung from a verticalsurface and holding a helmet;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view, partially cut away, of thedisplay device of FIG. 3;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front isometric exploded view of an additional displaydevice according to the present disclosure shown hung from a verticalsurface and holding a helmet;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a front elevation view, partially cut away, of thedisplay device of FIG. 5;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a front isometric exploded view of a further displaydevice according to the present disclosure shown hung from a verticalsurface and holding a helmet;

[0019]FIG. 8 is a front elevation view, partially cut away, of thedisplay device of FIG. 7;

[0020]FIG. 9 is a front isometric exploded view of another displaydevice according to the present disclosure shown holding and displayinga ball; and

[0021]FIG. 10 is a front isometric exploded view of an additionaldisplay device according to the present disclosure shown holding anddisplaying a ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

[0022] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hanging display device 10 fordisplaying memorabilia and, in particular, sports memorabilia 12 isprovided. It may be desirable to display sports memorabilia for a numberof reasons. For example, the memorabilia could be autographed by afamous athlete or athletes, or earned by an individual as a mostvaluable player, i.e., a “game ball”, or a championship ball earned by ateam. It may also be desirable and advantageous that a display devicefor memorabilia be adapted to be hung from a vertical surface, such as awall 14, as opposed to being placed on a horizontal surface, such as atable. Thus, the present disclosure provides a display device 10 fordisplaying sports memorabilia 12 that can be hung from a verticalsurface 14.

[0023] The hanging display device 10 includes a plaque 16 with a hanger18 secured to a rear face 20 of the plaque for hanging the plaque on thevertical surface 14 such that the rear face of the plaque issubstantially parallel with the vertical surface. In addition, a frontface 22 of the plaque 16 is parallel with the rear face 20, but notnecessarily so. The plaque 16 can be made from any suitable rigid andstrong material, such as wood, plastic, metal or stone.

[0024] The display device 10 also includes a support assembly 24 securedto the front face 22 of the plaque 16, and memorabilia 12 held by thesupport assembly. As shown, the support assembly 24 is adapted to holdthe memorabilia 12 in an upright position with respect to the verticalsurface 14. As shown, the memorabilia is provided in the form of abatting helmet 14 for baseball, including a visor 25, a curved sidewall28, and an ear shield 30 extending from the sidewall and having an earhole 32. The batting helmet also includes padding 34 within itsinterior.

[0025] By “being held upright with respect with respect to the verticalsurface” it is meant that the helmut or the memorabilia 12 is held suchthat it does not appear to be tilted or lopsided with respect to thewall 14. This is more particularly defined by stating that an imaginary,centrally located vertical plane 44 of the helmut 12 is parallel withthe wall 14.

[0026] The support assembly 24 includes a spacer 38 positioned betweenthe helmet 12 and the plaque 16. The spacer 38 has a flat surface 38abutting the front face 22 of the plaque and an opposing, contouredsurface 42 abutting the curved sidewall 28 of the helmet 12. Thecontoured surface 42 of the spacer 38 is contoured to match, orcomplement, an outer contour of the helmet 12 such that the helmet isheld in an upright position, with respect to the wall 14, when attachedto the plaque 16 with the spacer there between. The spacer 38 is be madefrom a suitably rigid material that won't deform under the weight of thehelmut 12, such as rubber, plastic or metal, for example. It should benoted that the spacer and the plaque can be unitarily formed as a singlepiece.

[0027] The helmet 12 is held to the plaque 16 by a fastener 46 thatpasses through the ear hole 32 and the spacer 38 and is secured to theplaque. As shown, the fastener comprises a threaded screw 46 that isthreadedly received in the plaque 16, which in the particular embodimentof FIGS. 1 and 2 is made of wood. A washer 48 is positioned between ahead of the screw 46 and the ear shield 30. A sleeve 58 is also providedto protect the helmet 12 from the screw 46. The fastener could also beprovided in the form of a nut and a bolt, for example.

[0028] Another spacer 52 for use with the hanging display 10 device ofFIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG. 2a. The spacer 52 includes a flat surface54 for abutting the plaque 16, an opposing contoured surface 56 forabutting the sidewall 28 of the helmet, and a unitary sleeve 58extending from the contoured surface for extending through the ear hole32, to protect the ear shield 30 from the fastener 46.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2b, a spacer 60 that can be custom formed mayalternatively be provided and preferably includes a malleable portion 62for forming a contoured surface 64, and a rigid non-malleable flat plate66 forming a flat surface 68 abutting the plaque 16. By malleable it ismeant that the contoured surface 64 of the spacer 60 can be formed tomatch the contour of a particular helmet 12, whereby a kit, includingjust the plaque 16, with the hanger 18, the spacer 60 and the fastener46, could be provided for use with any size or type of helmet, such as abatting helmet, a football helmet, a hockey helmet or a lacrosse helmet,for example. The malleable portion 62 of the spacer 60 is made of asoft, yet rigid material, such as balsa wood, rubber or plastic foam,that can be trimmed or formed by a sharp instrument, such as a knife.The malleable portion 62 could alternatively be made of a material thatcan be formed into a preferred contour and then allowed to harden, suchas clay or putty, or a material that can be heated until pliable, formedinto a preferred contour, then allowed to cool and harden, such as wax.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, another hanging display device 70including a support assembly 72 is shown. The support assembly 72includes first and second clamp arms 74, 76 cooperating to hold thehelmet 12 secured in an upright position with respect to the wall 14.The first clamp arm 74 is positioned between the helmet 12 and theplaque 16, and has a flat portion 76 abutting the front face 22 of theplaque and a contoured portion 78 extending from the flat portion andabutting the helmet. The contoured portion 78 is curved to match anouter curve of the sidewall 28 of the helmet 12 such that the helmet isin an upright position with respect to the wall 14. The second clamp arm74 is positioned within the helmet 12 and has a flat portion 80 abuttingthe flat portion 76 of the first clamp arm 72, and a gripping portion 82extending from its flat portion, directed toward the contoured portion78 of the first clamp arm, and securing the sidewall 28 of the helmet 12against the contoured portion. The second clamp arm 74 also includes anintermediate portion 84 between its flat and gripping portions 78, 80that extends through the ear hole 32 of the helmet 12. A fastener in theform of a screw 86 passes through holes in both flat portions 76, 80 ofthe clamp arms and is secured in the plaque 16.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an additional hanging display device88 is shown and includes a support assembly 90 having two resilient,curved prongs 92, 94 clamping the sidewall 28 of the helmet 12 andsecuring the helmet in an upright position. The curved prongs 92, 94 areunitarily formed with each other and with a threaded stud 96 thatextends through the plaque 16 and secured with a nut 98. The resilientcurved prongs 92, 94, which are made from plastic or metal for example,provide the benefit of securably mounting the helmet 12 to the plaque 16in an upright position, yet allow the helmet to be removed and handledwithout having to disassembly the support assembly from the plaque.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a further hanging display device 100is shown and includes a support assembly 102 having a backing plate 104secured to the plaque 16, a first panel 106 extending from the backingplate, and a second panel 108 intersecting the first panel. The panels106, 108 and the backing plate 104 are made of any suitably rigid andstrong material, such as plastic, glass or metal, and are unitarilyformed, or secured to each other with glue or welds, for example. Thebacking plate 104 of the support assembly 102 is secured to the plaque16 with fasteners in the form of screws 110, and the helmet 12 issupported in an upright position on the first and the second panels 106,108. As shown, the panels 106, 108 are provided with steps 112, suchthat upper portions of the panels extend into the interior of the helmet12. In addition, the second panel includes a hook 114 engaging the earhole 32 of the helmet 12 to secure the helmet in an upright position onthe first and the second panels 106, 108. Whereby, the helmet 12 issecurably mounted to the plaque 16 in an upright position, yet can beremoved and handled without having to disassembly the support assembly102 from the plaque 16.

[0033]FIG. 9 shows another hanging display device 116 including a plaque118 and a support assembly in the form of a transparent case 120 securedto the plaque. The transparent case 120 encloses and retains a piece ofmemorabilia, which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a football 122,in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface 14 uponwhich the plaque is mounted. The case 120 has opposing endwalls 124, 126extending from a front face 128 of the plaque, and a U-shaped cup 130,132 secured to each endwall for receiving the tips 134, 136 of thefootball 122 to secure the football there between. The transparent case120, which is made of glass or plastic, is secured to the plaque 118with fasteners, such as screws 138.

[0034]FIG. 10 shows an additional hanging display device 140 including asupport assembly in the form of a transparent case 142 secured to theplaque 118. The transparent case 142 encloses and retains a piece ofmemorabilia, which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a football 122,in an upright position with respect to the vertical surface 14 uponwhich the plaque 118 is mounted. The case 142 has opposing endwalls 144,146 extending from the front face 128 of the plaque 118, and concavecups 148, 150 secured to each endwall for receiving the tips 134, 136 ofthe football 122 to secure the football there between. In addition, oneof the cups 150 is rotatably mounted in the endwall 146 and includes aknob 152 extending through the endwall for allowing the cup and, thus,the football 122 to be rotated within the case 142. The other of thecups 148 may be provided with a nonfriction liner 154 for allowing theball 122 to be more easily rotated. The transparent case 142, which ismade of glass or plastic, is secured to the plaque with fasteners, suchas screws 156.

[0035] Thus, new, useful and desirable display devices for displayingsports memorabilia have been disclosed. In summary, a display device fordisplaying sports memorabilia as disclosed herein generally includes aplaque adapted to be hung on a wall and a support assembly secured tothe plaque for supporting a piece of memorabilia in an upright positionwith respect to the wall.

[0036] The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation ofthe presently disclosed hanging display devices have been described inthe foregoing specification. The presently disclosed display devices,however, are not to be construed as limited to the particularembodiments shown as these embodiments are regarded as illustriousrather than restrictive. Moreover, variations and changes may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of thepresently disclosed display devices as set forth by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a plaque; a hangersecured to a rear face of the plaque for hanging the plaque on avertical surface such that the rear face of the plaque is substantiallyparallel with the vertical surface; a support assembly secured to afront face of the plaque; and memorabilia held by the support assembly,wherein the support is adapted to hold the memorabilia in an uprightposition with respect to the vertical surface.
 2. The display device ofclaim 1 wherein the front and the rear faces of the plaque are parallel.3. The display device of claim 1 wherein the memorabilia comprises ahelmet and the support assembly comprises: a spacer positioned betweenthe helmet and the plaque, the spacer having a flat surface abutting thefront face of the plaque and an opposing contoured surface abutting thehelmet, the contoured surface of the spacer contoured to match an outercontour of the helmet such that the helmet is in an upright positionwith respect to the vertical surface; and a fastener passing through ahole in the helmet, through the spacer and secured to the plaque.
 4. Thedisplay device of claim 3 wherein the fastener comprises a screw and thesupport assembly also includes a washer positioned between a head of thescrew and the helmet.
 5. The display device of claim 3 wherein the holein the helmet that the fastener passes through comprises an ear hole. 6.The display device of claim 1 wherein the memorabilia comprises a helmetand the support assembly comprises: a first clamp arm positioned betweenthe helmet and the plaque, the first clamp arm having a contouredportion abutting the helmet, the contoured portion curved to match anouter contour of the helmet such that the helmet is in an uprightposition with respect to the vertical surface; a second clamp armpositioned within the helmet, the second clamp arm having a grippingportion directed towards the contoured portion of the first clamp armand securing the helmet against the contoured portion; and a fastenersecuring the clamp arms to the plaque.
 7. The display device of claim 6wherein the second clamp arm extends through a hole in the helmet. 8.The display device of claim 1 wherein the memorabilia comprises a helmetand the support assembly comprises a resilient curved prong clamping asidewall of the helmet and securing the helmet in an upright position.9. The display device of claim 8 wherein the support assembly furthercomprises a stud extending through the plaque from the resilient curvedprong and secured with a nut.
 10. The display device of claim 1 whereinthe memorabilia comprises a helmet and the support assembly comprises: abacking plate secured to the plaque; a first panel extending from thebacking plate; and a second panel intersecting the first panel; thehelmet supported in an upright position on the first and the secondpanels.
 11. The display device of claim 10 wherein one of the first andthe second panels includes a hook engaging an ear shield of the helmetand securing the helmet in an upright position on the first and thesecond panels.
 12. The display device of claim 1 wherein the memorabiliacomprises a ball and the support assembly comprises a transparent casesecured to the plaque, said case having: opposing endwalls extendingfrom the plaque; and a cup secured to each endwall; with the ball heldbetween the cups.
 13. The display device of claim 12 wherein the ballcomprises a football having opposing tips received in the cups.
 14. Thedisplay device of claim 13 wherein the cups are U-shaped.
 15. Thedisplay device of claim 13 wherein the cups are concave, and wherein oneof the cups is rotatably mounted in the endwall and includes a knobextending through the endwall for allowing said cup and, thus, thefootball to be rotated within the case.
 16. The display device of claim15 wherein the other of the cups includes a nonfriction liner.
 17. Thedisplay device of claim 12 wherein the cups are concave, and wherein oneof the cups is rotatably mounted in the endwall and includes a knobextending through the endwall for allowing said cup and, thus, the ballto be rotated within the case.
 18. A display device for hanging on avertical surface and holding memorabilia in an upright position withrespect to the vertical surface, the device comprising: a plaque; ahanger secured to a rear face of the plaque for hanging the plaque on avertical surface such that the rear face of the plaque is substantiallyparallel with the vertical surface; and a support assembly secured to afront face of the plaque and including, a spacer for positioning betweenthe helmet and the plaque, the spacer having a flat surface for abuttingthe front face of the plaque and an opposing, malleable surface forabutting the helmet, wherein the malleable surface can be contoured tomatch an outer contour of the helmet such that the helmet is in anupright position with respect to the vertical surface when abutting thespacer, and a fastener for passing through a hole in the helmet, throughthe spacer and secureable to the plaque.